Tag Archives: technics

The Technics SL-10 direct drive, fully automatic turntable, continues Technics’ tradition of innovation and stunningly designed products. Read on to find out why this deck is one of the best vintage turntable buys today.

Ground-Breaking Design

The Technics SL-10 direct-drive turntable represented the pinnacle of design, engineering and product marketing, when it arrived on the scene in 1979.… Read more

I was recently asked to undertake the restoration of a lovely old Technics SL-120 direct-drive turntable. The SL-120 was basically an SL-1200, without a tonearm. Owners often chose to fit an SME 3009, as was the case with this old deck. This one though, had seen better days…

This weekend has been intense. I’ve just finished servicing three Technics SL-1200 direct drive turntables, along with several other jobs. I service a lot of these Technics turntables and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this legendary design and look at some basic servicing. I’ve written a review of the Technics SL-1200 series which you should also take a look at.

I recently serviced a customer’s Technics SL-Q5 direct-drive, linear-tracking turntable. This is a mid-range linear-tracking deck from the 1980s and well worth keeping an eye out for.

The deck is typical Technics in being well designed, well made and easy to service. The issue with this deck, and many others like it, is that it has not been serviced and has eventually displayed a fault that meant it could no longer play records.… Read more

The Technics SL-1300 is a great example of what I am talking about when I refer to classic direct drive decks from the golden era of excellence in the engineering and manufacture of turntables.

Technics made a range of decks and this was one of the best of the consumer models. With a nicely balanced 2.5kg platter, aluminium chassis, Technics’ proprietary one-piece motor and platter arrangement and nice automation of start, stop and play functions, this is one deck to watch out for.… Read more

The Technics SL-1200 direct drive turntable, in its various iterations, will be well known to most vinyl lovers these days. They have become almost legendary for different reasons – DJs love them for their fast startup and solid build; home users love them for their engineering and audio bang for the buck.

Make no mistake – the SL-1200 is no audio weapon in the big picture – it is never going to scare an SP-10 or L-07D.… Read more